Goethe contro Newton – Una polemica sull’origine rifrazionistica dei colori

In this controversy regarding the theory of colours, Goethe proposes a re-examination of some historical experiments in order to deny Newton’s ideas on the differentiated refraction of the various colours. Goethe analyzes Newton’s statements, step by step in order to criticize them. In spite of himself he is influenced by some aspects of Newton’s methods of research in physics which he had previously refused. As a result Goethe does not remain faithful to his own purely phenomenological view.